Interview with Lady Frances Smyth [sound recording]

Audio recording of oral history interview with Lady Frances Smyth, covering the period 1908-1942. Cassette side OA1/62/1: Childhood recollections of India. Breaking tradition of women spending hot season in hill stations. Slightly alien position of women in India. Different attitudes of army and ci...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/62/1-2 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Smyth; Lady; Frances Mary Blair Read (fl 1908-1972); née Chambers, wife of Sir John George Smyth
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.62.1-2
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/62/1-2
callnumber_txt OA1/62/1-2
callnumber-sort OA1/62/1-2
prefix_number 1-2
title Interview with Lady Frances Smyth [sound recording]
scb_date_creation 1972-1974
scb_level Item
level_sort 8/Collection/Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Sub-Collection/Series/Sub-Series/Sub-Sub-Series/File/Item
scb_extent 1 hr. approx. (sound cassette: analog)..
author Smyth; Lady; Frances Mary Blair Read (fl 1908-1972); née Chambers, wife of Sir John George Smyth
author_facet Smyth; Lady; Frances Mary Blair Read (fl 1908-1972); née Chambers, wife of Sir John George Smyth
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Smyth; Lady; Frances Mary Blair Read (fl 1908-1972); née Chambers, wife of Sir John George Smyth
author_letter Smyth; Lady; Frances Mary Blair Read (fl 1908-1972); née Chambers, wife of Sir John George Smyth
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British civilian wife of officer in Indian Army 1908-1942
description Audio recording of oral history interview with Lady Frances Smyth, covering the period 1908-1942. Cassette side OA1/62/1: Childhood recollections of India. Breaking tradition of women spending hot season in hill stations. Slightly alien position of women in India. Different attitudes of army and civilian wives. Education in England. Return to India 1925. Parents' bungalow; methods of keeping cool. Description of health precautions. Routine during hot season; recreations. Importance of trees in Indian life. Bird shooting in cold season. Cassette side OA1/62/2: Relationship with servants. Contacts with Indian women. Differing characters of British and Indians. Social life on return to India. Hill station permissiveness. Gossip. Chit system. Married men's attitude to affairs. Position of women in India. Meeting socially acceptable Indians. Limited experiences of arts. Evocations of India; heightened sensual awareness. Importance of water in India. Work of cook. Pride in achievements of Raj. Conforming to traditional behaviour of British women.
scb_access_status Closed
scb_conditions_gov_access Access to sound recording of this interview is currently unavailable at SOAS Library. The transcript can be consulted. Researchers can access a copy of this sound recording at the British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/62/01-02. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418.
scb_copyright Copyright held by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
scb_use_restrictions Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist
language English
language_search English
scb_copies Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/62/01-02 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004961/02
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/62/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0062.001-2

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